Spindle



n 6, 1950 V w. s. PIERCE, JR 2,510,2 2

SPINDLE z Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed June 17, 1948 ATTORNEYS June 6, 1950 w. s. PIERCE, JR 2,510,292

SPINDLE Filed June 17, 1948 2 She ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR T wimqp BY 6 7 WM- WATZWM A1TORNEY5 Patented June 1950 umrso STATES PATENT-OFFICE smote ,Wlnslow S. Pierce, In, Dublin, N. H. I 1 Application June 17, 1948, Serial No. 33,620

. 1 This invention relates to spindles and more particularly to high-speed rotating spindle assemblies for use in driving bobbins or cop tubes on which textile strands are spun,'-twisted or wound.

Textile strands are spun on bobbins mounted on spindles. Itis essential to the economical utilization of the spinning equipment that the spindles rotate at very highspeeds. At desired operating speeds, various vibrations occur due primarily to irregularities in the winding of the yarn, thread or other textile strand onto or from the bobbin. Such vibrations cause excessive wear or breakage of the spindle hearings, or breakage of the bobbin or other equipment, and the rotative speeds that can be employed are practically limited by the magnitude or violence of these vibrations.

According to the present invention it is proposed to provide an improved spindle and bobbin carrying assembly which will eliminate or minimize vibrations due to changing eccentric disposition of the weight with respect to the axis of the spindle bearings such as results from irregular winding oi a textile strand on a bobbin carried by the spindle. plished in accordance with the invention by em- In general, this is accom- 1 Claims. (c1. 51-130) and when it is rotating at slow speeds to an extent .that undesirable eccentric flopping oi the bobbin occurs. Under such conditions, the selfcentering of the bobbin at higher speeds may be delayed or prevented and harmful speed limiting vibrations result. In accordance with one aspect a of the invention, any such undesirable flopping ploying a relatively long flexible spindle blade 1 carried at its lower end by a fixedly journaled rotative driving base and connected at its upper end to the upper end of a rigid bobbin carrying sleeve.

The lower end of the bobbin sleeve may be advantageously provided with a concentrically disposed mass or flywheel. With this arrangement the rotating assembly comprising the bobbin, the textile strand wound thereon and the bobbin carrying sleeve with its flywheel rotates about its center or mass. which may deviate from the axis of the driving base bearing, the spindle blade flexing while rotating topermit such deviation. When the center of mass of the bobbin and sleeve assembly changes due to'changes in the irregularity ot-winding oi the textile strand, the spin-. .dle blade flexes to a new position to permit rotationoi the'assembly about an axis through its new center of mass. with the described arrangement, vibrations are eliminated or reduced to the point where speeds appreciably higher than those previously'considered safe can be employed. p

Where a highly v ployed and in operations where the eccentrically disposed mass is considerable, the spindle blade may bend while the spindle assembly is at rest is flexible spindle blade is emof the bobbin during acceleration is prevented by providing centrifugally governed centering means adjacent the lower end of the bobbincarrying sleeve, which mechanism holds the bobbin and its carrying sleeve in a position physically concentric with the driving base axis when the spindle is at rest or is rotating at relatively low speeds, the centering means being retracted at a predetermined speed to permit tree movement of the bobbin and its carrying sleeve to a position inwhich it rotates about its center of mass.

In describing'the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments thereof are illustrated. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a spindle assembly embodying the invention with a bobbin shown mounted on the assembly;

Fig. 2 is a view on a reduced scale taken alon line 22 of Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of a modified form 01' flexible spindle blade and the upper end of the bobbin carrying v sleeve connected thereto;

Fig. 4 is a sectionalview on a more enlarged viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view on an enlarged scale, showing centriiugally operated centering means employed in accordance with one aspect of my invention, the'view being taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, taken along the line 6i of Fig. 5.

Inthe disclosed embodiment, my improved construction includes a driving base including a central rigid shaft 5 surrounded by a concentric driving pulley .6 integrally connected to the shaft by a top end flange I. The rigid shaft 5 is journaled in a'flxed tubular case 8 to rotate about a fixed axis by axially spaced bearings such as the spaced ball-bearings 9 and Ill. The driving base may be rotated at the desired high speed by a belt B-engasim the pulley 6.

A bobbin carrying sleeve 8 is connected to the driving base by an elongated flexible spindle The bobbin carrying sleeve S is .hollow and is slightly tapered as shown to provide a tight wedge fit with the central bore of a bobbin l which is similarly tapered. In accordance with the invention, the spindle blade l2 extends throughout the length of the sleeve S within the central open bore thereof and is connected to the sleeve only at its upper end. This connection may be by means of a press fit between an enlarged head It on the spindle blade and a reduced head portion II on the sleeve as shown. At its lower end, the bobbin carrying sleeve S carries a circular flange l8 rigidly fixed to or formed integral with the sleeve and having an enlarged depending rim IQ of considerable mass, the flange and rim acting as a flywheel. The assembly thus far described is normally concentric with the axis of rotation of the driving base which is fixed by the spaced bearings 9 and I0, so that the center of mass of this assembly lies along that axis, and but for irregularities in the distribution of the textile strand on the bobbin l5 and possible imperfections in the bobbin itsell, it will rotate truly and without vibration about such axis.

With the long flexible spindle blade I2 connected to the bobbin carrying sleeve S only at the upper end of the assembly, the rotative behavior of the assembly is much the same as that of a spinning top. When the center of mass of the assembly is altered because of irregularities in the winding of the textile strand on the bobbin l5, or for any other reason, the assembly comprising the bobbin, the mass of strand carried thereby and the bobbin carrying sleeve S moves to a new position in which it rotates about its new center of mass which is then eccentric with respect to the fixed axis of the driving base determined by the bearings 9 and Ill. Since after such movement the assembly rotates about its new center of mass, it does not vibrate. The spindle blade l2 bends while rotating to permit the deviation between the axis of rotation of the driving base and the new axis of rotation of the bobbin and sleeve assembly. The magnitude of this deviation changes with changes in distribution of the mass of textile'strand on the bobbin, so that the structure automatically accommodates itself to the irregular mass distributions that take place in the normal course of the winding or spinning operation.

The flywheel formed by the flange l8 with its rim I9 materially reduces the magnitude of the deviation between the axis of rotation of the sleeve and bobbin assembly and the fixed driving base axis. The combined mass of the sleeve S and its flywheel is great as compared to that of the eccentrlcally disposed portion of the textile strand, and for this reason the deviation of the axis is small and is readily accommodated by the small clearance between the inner bore of the sleeve S and the spindle blade carrying base sleeve M. This clearance limits the possible deviation so that if the assembly is started up with an eccentrically disposed load on the bobbin, the initial wide deviation that may occur during acceleration and before the assembly has reached a speed of rotation at which it centers itself about 4 an axis through its center of mass is limited by engagement of the sleeve 8 with the blade carrying base sleeve M. i

The spindle blade l2 should be quite flexible, and when formed of solid steel its dimensional proportions may be of the order of three thirtyseconds to threc-sixteenths of an inch in diameter to a seven-inch overall length. With such a seven-inch spindle blade, a radial clearance of the order of two or three thirty-seconds of an inch between the inner wall'of the bobbin sleeve near its base and the surface of the blade receiving base sleeve is ordinarily satisfactory. The dimensional proportions here indicated are not critical and are given only by way of example.

According to a modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the spindle blade may be formed of a flexible resilient cable 2| of known construction made up of a plurality of superimposed layers of spirally wound fine gauge resilientwire 22, the successive layers of which are wound in opposite directions. This blade 2| may be secured to the head ll of the bobbin carrying sleeve S by a press fit or in any other suitable known manner. The cable type spindle blade 2| is somewhat more flexible for its size than the solid steel blade l2 of the modification previously described, and hence may be preferred where there is a considerable deviation of the axis of rotation of the bobbin assembly from the fixed axis of rotation of the driving base.

In one form of the invention, an embodiment of which is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, centrifugally operated means are provided for holding the bobbin carrying sleeve and the bobbin in a position substantially physically concentric with the axis of the driving base while the assembly is stationary and while 'it is rotating at speeds below those resulting in the above-explained selfcentering action. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of centrifugally movable centering arms 23 pivotally secured at symmetrically eccentric points to the lower face of the flywheel flange II at the lower end of the bobbin carrying sleeve S. The several arms 23, of which three are shown in the disclosed embodiment, are pivotally secured to the flange It by stud screws 24 and are formed at their outer ends to engage the outer surface of the spindle blade carrying base sleeve I at equally spaced points when in their inner or extended positions, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5. The several arms 23 are preferably interconnected by suitable mechanism to move in unison so that their sleeve-engaging ends are concentric with respect to the physical axis of the sleeve S in all positions. In the disclosed embodiment, this is accomplished by a series of links 25 pivotally connected by stud screws 26 between equally eccentric points on the several arms 23. 1

The several arms 23 are spring loaded to move to and remain in their inner positions in engagement with the base sleeve l l until the bobbin and. sleeve assembly has accelerated to a rotative speed at which it will center itself about its center of mass. I prefer to employ spring means that provides a maximum loading when the arms 23 are extended to engage the sleeve ll, so that as soon as the critical speed is reached, the arms 23 will immediately move to their outermost or retracted' positions in which their ends clear the opening at the lower end of the sleeve S, as shown in broken lines at 23' in Fig. 5. One arrangement suitable for this purpose is illustrated.

Three levers 21 are pivotally secured to the flange l8 byflstudscrews 28, one lever- 21.; d s d di'wen ts eeli a m The inner-end of each lever 21 carries aroll j that engagesthe' outer face oi the, a ilacent arrn 23, The levers 2lextend inward substantially-Ia 81 9 rom th -pivotal, supports; the more: merit being" suchithatfwiththe arm 21in its in-L nermost, positlom thejleveli 21 is displaced" by a smallangle whom a radial position; A

blada-said-sleeve saidz'j'blade being spaced we m t twn fle r a rality of by said, bobbin its lower end'and movwardly andfbi'litwardly with respect to said ":b1ade,-rand ,springfni'e'ans biasing said arms ininto centering contact with said driving said arms movable outward by centritugdliorce rrom such centering contact when springtll issecuredtoeach lever 21 and to the: oi. rotation 01 the spindle assembly 'reachesa predeterminedvalue, 4. A Spindle assembly for rapidly rotating a ti on the flange l lbiases thexlevertowardj ra- I dial position andso biases the arm; 23;,towardfits 2 extended innermost position. *gjAn--'.adjustment textile strand bobbin comprising a rigid driving screw 22 witha lock'nut; 23 thereonis'provided to base, apair oi! axially spaced bearings supporting permit adjustment of the spring tension and a is said base to rotate about a fixed axis, an elonstop post 34 limits the outward movement of the gated flexible blade formed of superimposed laylever 21 to a position at which the arm 23 just ers of oppositely spirally wound wire fixed to and clears the central opening in the sleeve S. f extending from said base and lying along the with thearrangement described, when the filled axis of rotation of said base when the-blade 7 critical speed is reached, the centrifugal forcego is in the unfiexed condition, a hollow elongated acting on the arms 23 overcomes'the load imposed bobbin supporting sleeve surrounding and subby the springs 30. This load is at its maximum stantially coextensive with said blade and fixed when the arms 23 are in their innermost positions adjacent its upper end to the upper end portion since outward movement of the levers 2] increases or said blade, said sleeve and said blade being the lever arm through which the arms 23 act on 25 radially spaced apart except at their point of the springs 31L As a result, the arms 23 immeconnection, a plurality of arms carried eccendiately snap to their outermostor retracted positrically by said sleeve adjacent its lower end and tions at the critical speed, moving the levers 21 movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to to retracted positions against their stop posts 34, said blade and spring means biasing said arms as illustrated in broken lines at 21' in Fig. 5. The inwardly into centering contact with said driving bobbin carrying sleeve S and bobbin 15 are then base, said arms being movable outward by cenfree to center themselves about their center of trifugal force from such centering contact when mass in the manner explained above. the speed of rotation of the spindle assembly I claim: reaches a predetermined value.

1 A spindle assembly for rapidly rotating a 35 5. A spindle assembly for rapidly rotating a textile strand bobbin comprising a, rigid driving textile strand bobbin comprising a rigid driving base, a pair of axially spaced bearings supporting base, a pair of axially spaced bearings supportsaid base to rotate about '9. fixed substantially vering said base to rotate about a fixed axis, an elontical axis, an elongatedflexible blade formed of gated flexible blade fixed to and extending from superimposed layers of oppositely spirally wound 40 said driving base and lying along the fixed axis wire fixed to and extending vertically upward of rotation of said base when the blade is in the from said base and lying along the fixed axis of unfiexed condition, a tubular bobbin supporting rotation of said base when the blade is in theunsleeve surrounding and substantially coextensive flexed condition, and a. hollow elongated bobbin with said blade and fixed adjacent one end to the pp r ing sleeve surrounding and substantially outer end portion oi. said blade, said sleeve and coextensive with said blade and fixed adjacent its said blade being radially spaced apart except at pp d o e upper end Portion of Said blade, their point of connection, a circular flange consaid sleeve and said blade being radially spaced centrically fixed to and extending horizontally ap except at their Point Of connection from said sleeve at its other end, a plurality of 2. A spindle assembly for r pi y rotating 1% rmspivotally connectedtosaid flange and movtextile strand bobbin omp is g a rigid drivin able outward substantially radiall of the assembas a a f a y spa d bearings sup bly b centrifugal force, said arms engaging said ing said base to rotate about a fixed substantially driving base and centering said bobbin supportvertical axis, an elongated flexible blade formed of m sleeve about an axis of Said driving base when superimposed layers of oppos tely sp y Wound in their innermost positions, means connecting wire fixed to a extending Vertically upward said arms to move in unison and spring means from said base and ly g' the fixed 9-815 of connected to bias said arms to move to their rotation of said base when the blade'is in the innermost positions, unfiexed co d t o atllblllar b b ppo 6. A spindle assembly for rapidly rotating a sleeve sur d a d substantially o n iv e0 textile strand bobbin comprising a. rigid driving with said blade and fixed adjacent its upper end base, a, pair of axially spaced bearings supporting to the upper e d portion f s blade but spaced said base to rotate about a fixed axis, an elonfrom said blade el wh r an a flyw l fixed gated flexible blade fixed to and extending irom concentrically to said sleeveat its lower end. said driving base and lying along the fixed axis 3. A spindle assembly for rapidly rotating a 05 of rotation of said base when the blade is in the textile strand bobbin compr g a rigid drivin unfiexed condition, a tubular bobbin supportingbase, a pair of axially spaced bearings supp sleeve surrounding and substantially coextensive in aid e to rotate about fl d axis, an l nwith said blade and fixed adjacent one end to t d fl l blade d a de t dins f the outer end portion of said blade, said sleeve said driving base and lying along the fixed axis and said blade being radially spaced apart except of rotation of said base when the blade is in the at their point of connection, a circular flange unfiexed condition, a hollow elongated bobbin concentrically fixedto and extending horizontally V supporting sleeve surrounding and substantially vfrom said sleeve atits other end, a plurality of s coextensive with said blade and fixed adjacent arms pivotally connected to said flange and movits upper end to the uppercnd portion of said 76 able outward substantially radially or the assembly by centrifugal iorce, said arms engasing said driving base and centering said bobbin support.- 7

ing sleeve about the axis oi said'drivins base when in their innermost positions, connecting said arms to move in unison, and sprins means connected to bias said arms to move to their innermost positions, said spring means exerting their maximum force when said arms are in their innermost positions.

'7. A spindle assembly for rapidly rotating a textile strand bobbin comprising a rigid driving base, a pair of axially spaced bearings supporting said base to rotate about a fixed axis, an elongated flexible blade fixed to and extending irom said driving base and lying along the fixed axis of rotation of said base when the blade is in the unilexed condition, a tubular bobbin supporting sleeve surrounding and substantially coextensive with said blade and fixed adjacent one end to the outer end portion or said blade, said sleeve and said blade being radially spaced apart except at their point of connection, a circular flange concentrically fixed to and extending horizontally from said sleeve at its other end, a plurality of arms pivotaily connected to said flange and movable outward substantially radially oi the assem- 8 bly by centrifugal force, said arms ensssins said driving base and centering said bobbin apportingsieeve abouttheaxisofsalddrivingbasewhen in their innermost posit ons, meam eenneetins saidarmsto move inunison. pivotailysupported levers engasins said arms and springs biasing said levers to move said arms to their innermost positions, said levers extending radially inward 0! said flange from their pivotal supports to their points oi t with said levers whereby the biaso! said levers is reduced as said arms move outward.

-WINBIDW 8. PIERCE, Js.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number Name Date 2,138,531 Wise et al Nov. 29, 1938 2,402,028 Curtis June 11, 194B FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 534,450 France Jan. 5, 1922 

